Because of limitations imposed by the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552a, the Department of Justice cannot provide information about individual prisoner transfer cases without a signed waiver of confidentiality from the prisoner.

This law applies whether the inquiring party is the prisoner's Congressman or family member. Occasionally, families can assist prisoners by assembling documents, such as birth certificates, passports, medical records, and the like.

Prisoners who are applying for transfer may be represented by an attorney but need not be. The overwhelming majority of applicants to the prisoner transfer program are not represented by an attorney.

Families are free to bring pertinent matters to the attention of the Department of Justice by writing to the International Prisoner Transfer Unit. Telephone calls should be limited to confirming that the letter has been received.